AD Addresses Dash 8-400 Landing Gear

The FAA is adopting an Airworthiness Directive (AD 2012-08-11) for certain Bombardier Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft, to alleviate potential landing gear issues. The problems were identified during testing, which showed that failure of a retract-port, flexible hose on the main-landing-gear actuator could result in excessive leakage of hydraulic fluid.

Compliance demands inspections of the hoses on both the right and left main landing gear and their replacement, if necessary, to prevent structural failure in the event of an undampened gear extension. The AD becomes effective May 29, 2012.